Vaporizer



Dec. 22, 1931.

H. MUNTER 1,837,986

VAPORI ZER Filed March 16, 1928 Inventor: Hans M'u'nt er, WM 277% Hus Attorney.

Patented Dec. 22 1931 UNITED srnrss PATENT OFFICE HANS MTTNTER, OF HENNIGSDORIE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COM PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK VAPORIZER Application filed March 16, 1928, SerialNo. 262,250, and in Germany November 9, 1 926.

alcohols, especially methanol. This last substance which has a chemical formula of CI-LOH will yield when decomposed carbon monoxide and hydrogen in which it is possible to produce welds of superior quality. An object of my invention is to produce an improved vaporizer by means of which a liquid, such as methanol, may be safely vaporized and supplied to the welding zone at a uniform pressure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a vaporizer in which the vapor is first generated and then superheated or reheated in order to prevent particles of liquid reaching the point of welding.

A further objectof my invention is to so construct the vaporizer that condensation of the generated vapor is prevented during its passage to the superheater above referred to.

In order to secure a safe operation of the vaporizer it is desirable that the level of the liquid therein shall not exceed a certain maximum so that a sutliciently large space for the accumulation of vapor be provided therein.

3 A further object of my inventlon is to provide means for filling the vaporizer to a predetermined extent without dependin on gauge glasses, drawing-off taps, or the li e.

Further objects of my invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompany drawing and the scope of my invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The single figure of the drawing illustrates a side view partially in section of an evaporator embodying the several features of my invention.

Referring to the vaporizer shown in the drawing, a closed bottle or container 1 in which is placed the substance to be evaporated 2 is maintained at a substantially constant temperature by being immersed in a liquid bath 3 within a tank or boiler 4 which is heated by suitable heating means illustrated as an electric heater 5. If the substance to be vaporized is methanol and the liquid bath 3 is water, the arrangement described will function to deliver methanol vaporat 3.5 atmospheres since the boiling point of water. is 100 C. at normal pressure and at this temperature the vapor pressure of methanol is 3.5 atmospheres. The vapor generated within the bottle 1 is conducted through a passageway 6 in a, plug 7 closing the neck 8 of the bottle, thence through a pipe 9, a valve 10, and a second pipe 11 to the superheater 13 immediately associated with the heating means 5. As shown this superheater is made of a bent copper pipe located adjacent the heating means 5. By enclosing within the tank or boiler 4 the connections between the bottle 1 and the superheater 13 condensation in these connections of the vapor generated in bottle'l is prevented. Within the superheater l3'the temperature of the vapor is sufficiently raised so that there is little tendency for the vapor to recondense before reaching the point of its application through a tube (not shown) connected at 14 to the superheater 13.

' Bottle 1 may be filled by closing valve 10 through the agency of its handwheel 15 which extends outside the boiler 4 and by opening the normally closed valve 16 which opens a passageway from without the boiler 4 into the container 1, through funnel 17, pipe 18, valve 16, and pipe 19. The pipe 19 extends into the bottle and has its terminal located a predetermined distance from the top of the bottle so that upon filling the bottle the air cushion located above the terminal of this pipe prevents more than a certain amount of liquid being placed in'the bottle. That V is, upon filling the bottle with liquid a certain amount of air and vapor in the bottle is unable to escape from the bottle through valve 10 which is closed or through the pipe 19 by reason of the liquid already in the bottle. Therefore, the liquid in the pipe 19 rises and eventually reaches the funnel 17 which notifies the operator that the bottle is filled to its predetermined level. If thereafter the operator opens valve 15 and allows the air imprisoned in the upper part of the bottle 1 to escape the liquid in tunnel 17 and. pipes 18 and 19 Will flow into the bottle but will be insutlicient to fill the bottle, thus leaving a certain space at the top of the bottle for the accumulation of vapor during the initial period of operation of the evaporator. In this manner the level of the liquid in the bottle is readily adjusted to a predetermined height Without making use of gauge glasses,

' drawing-oil taps, or the like.

It is desirable to choose the dimensions of the bottle so that it will function for a sufliciently long period of time to satisfy the normal requirements for which it is built. hus it the evaporator is used in welding it is desirable to construct the bottle 1 for a capacity of about 3 liters which will be sutiicient to supply to the usual welding nozzle the desire amount oi gas for an 8-hour operating period. If refilling is nevertheless necessary the water 3 in the boiler 4 may be drawn oil for the most part through a tap 20 and cold water poured in through an opening in the top of the boiler 4-. which is normally closed by cover. A baille plate 9.1 is provided within the boiler i for preventing this cold water from striking the hot bottle. As soon as the temperature of the water in the boiler l has fallen below 66 C. the boiling point of methanol at normal pressure the bottle may be opened and fresh methanol supplied in the manner previously described.

It is, of course, apparent that evaporator-s may be employed in accordance with the disclosure for the evaporation of liquids other than methanol while using heat transmission media other than water at temperatures other than 100 C. It is also apparent that the heating means may be non-electrical. In other words, the proposed arrangement may be modified to meet varying requirements without departing from my invention which has been shown and described in connection with a simplified arrangement for the purpose of clearly illustrating the invention, and 1, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

ll 'hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In con'ibination, closed container having a discharge passage 'ay in its top portion, a liquid bath in which s id container is innnersed means for heating said liquid bath, means associated with said heating means for heating vapor after it has been discharged from said container and a pipe connected to said discharge passageway and to said lastmentioned means.

2. In combination a closed container, means for maintaining said container at an approximately constant temperature, means for superheating the vapor supplied from said container and means for maintaining the vapor discharged from said container at an approximately constant temperature equal to that of said container until said vapor delivered to said superheatin g means.

3. In combination, a. closed container, a boiler within which said container is enclosed, means for heating said boiler means assoated with said heating means for superheating vapor generated in said container, and nu s totally enclosed within said lnnlcr for connecting said container with said superheating means.

.1;. A totally closed container, a discharge conduit connected to said container means {or ii ling said container to a predetermined including a pipe inserted into the con ullltti' and having its discharge terminal located a predetermined distai ce from the top said container, and valve means in said conduit and in said pipe.

A tiitally closed container a boiler within which said container is locate ;l, means for withdrawing liquid from said boiler and for supplying liquid to said boilcr,said "icntioned means including a battle lo cated within said boiler for preventing newly supplied liquid from impinging directly on said container.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day oi February, 192.

HANS MUNTER. 

